via Reuters
Tennis – A Day at the Drive Exhibition – Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia – January 29, 2021 Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka at A Day at The Drive REUTERS/Morgan Sette
via Reuters
Tennis – A Day at the Drive Exhibition – Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia – January 29, 2021 Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka at A Day at The Drive REUTERS/Morgan Sette
Serena Williams showed glimpses of what lies in store for her rivals this season at the exhibition Day at the Drive event in Adelaide. And if the footage put out by the WTA on its official Twitter page on Monday is any indication, Serena Williams sure means business.
The snatch from her ongoing match against Australian Daria Gavrilova at the ATP 500 event in Melbourne shows Serena producing a stunning forehand cross court winner on her opponent’s serve.
Serena Williams showing vintage form ahead of Australian Open 2021
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The 39-year-old American seemed to have shaken off her lockdown with rust and looked in fine fettle as she got the better of Japanese star and reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka in a three-setter in the Adelaide tie.
Fabulous forehand from @serenawilliams 💪#YarraValleyWTA pic.twitter.com/oaGgv8rZfN
— wta (@WTA) February 1, 2021
The fact that she hasn’t managed to add to her 23 Grand Slam titles for the last three years seems to have only whetted her appetite for glory this season. And on the evidence of the piece of action that the women’s tennis body has shared, she looks to be doubly determined to set the record straight this year.
A 24th Grand Slam title will put Serena level with the legendary Margaret Court’s career tally of Major trophies.
via Getty
Serena Williams of the United States celebrates defeating Catherine McNally of the United States during their Women’s Singles second round match on day three of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2019, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
She can also draw on her happy memories of Melbourne Park in 2017 when she lifted her 23rd Grand Slam crown, beating sister Venus Williams.
Serena gunning for a record 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open
The moment shared by the WTA on Twitter is also a true testament to the fitness work that the veteran American put in ahead of the season.
Alexa!
Please play U Can't Touch This, the Serena remix.
Tune in → https://t.co/DWwqEJJEUd@serenawilliams | #YarraValleyWTA pic.twitter.com/HdFIU6RT7M
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 1, 2021
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Gavrilova delivers a strong serve, drawing a forehand return out of Serena. The Australian then tries to push her back and make her run for the ball around the court. But the American is equal to the task as she hits a backhand cross court to which Gavrilova responds with a powerful forehand down-the-line.
Not to be outdone, the American manages to reach the ball and produces a blistering forehand winner to finish on the right side of the point.
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Read More: Serena Williams Announces Good News Ahead of Australian Open 2021
She has already done enough to send out a chilling warning to rivals, and if her detractors are watching, they can write off her Australian Open chances at their own peril.
